Qatar: Drake & Scull employees strike over unpaid wages at Msheireb Downtown Doha; incl. co. comments
Summary
Date Reported: 24 Nov 2015
Location: Qatar
Companies
Drake & Scull - Employer , Msheireb Properties - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: 300
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Bangladesh , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Nepal , Construction , Gender not reported ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Philippines , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Freedom of Expression , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
Action taken: Drake & Scull told Doha News this was an anomaly caused by a fault in the new wage protection system. The company said management engaged with workers immediately. Msheireb Properties said it was working closely with the involved parties and that it contractually requires all contractors and suppliers to abide by Qatar's laws.
Source type: News outlet
"Strike temporarily halts work on part of Qatar's Msheireb project," 24 2015
In a rare work stoppage, several hundred men at the Msheireb Downtown Doha construction site went on strike over the weekend and continue to remain off the job in a dispute over unpaid wages...
The employer, subcontractor Drake & Scull, told Doha News that the issue stemmed from a one-time delay in paying salaries because of new requirements under Qatar’s wage protection system.
Witnesses told Doha News that between 200 and 400 men stopped working at approximately 7am on Saturday. While most described the incident as a peaceful protest, others said some individuals aggressively confronted their supervisors...
The labor representative said the police were called in and helped mediate a temporary solution with managers by having the construction workers return to their accommodation in the Industrial Area...
Msheireb Properties confirmed that the incident caused work to be temporarily suspended on a small part of the 76.6-acre site on Saturday and Sunday.
The company added that while the strike did not involve any workers directly employed by the developer, the firm is working with its contractors to resolve the dispute.